Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon must work
fast to stop a terrorist plot against the Vatican. CRIME/DRAMA
|
Angels & Demons (2009)Directed by Ron Howard
Written by David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman Starring Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgård, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Armin Mueller-Stahl Sequel to 2006's The Da Vinci Code Based on the novel by Dan Brown |
Having loved The Da Vinci Code, I was very excited to see the next chapter on the big screen. It did not disappoint. Angels & Demons is an exciting conspiracy flick that keeps you guessing until the very end. It is filled with great performances and characters who are not who they seem. It doesn't paint the Catholic Church in the most flattering light, resurrecting old enemies from the past like the Illuminati and reminding the audience of the church's darkest moments.
While the novel came before The Da Vinci Code, this films acts as a sequel, with Robert Langdon's (Tom Hanks) actions in the first film being mentioned briefly. Ewan McGregor delivered a solid performance as Patrick McKenna, the camerlengo of the Vatican who becomes the unofficial head of the church after the pope's sudden death. The plot is very well-written, providing the same tone as the first film as well as making it more realistic. I disagree with the critics immensely, who said this film was boring. It is anything but. I think Angels & Demons is a fantastically well-crafted thriller with a great story and yet another chill-inducing score by Hans Zimmer. The history surrounding the events in the film paints a tapestry of horrific events, brutal vengeance, and ultimately illumination. Alongside the scientific aspect the film provides, it becomes exactly what the characters in the film attempt to create. A bridge between human and divine. |